Stobage structure



Nov. 5, 1929.

M. P. DU PLESSIS STORAGE STRUCTURE Filed March 30, 1927 2 sheets-snm 1 i o KKL 1.

un 'HV Nov. 5, 1929. M. P. nu PLEssls STORAGE STRUCTURE.

Filed March 50, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l:2

Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILTON P. DU PLESSS, F EVANSTON, LLNOE, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO READYBELT STORE EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS STORAGE STRUCTURE Application tiled March 30, 1927.

rlhis invention relates to storage lstructure and has among its objects to provide a relatively inexpensive structure for display and storage purposes which is readily assembled and disassembled without requiring particular skill or effort; to provide such a structure in which the sections may be readily inserted or removed separately regardless of their relative positions in the complete structure; to provide such a structure in which each of the sections or compartments will be supported separately, which will be capable of expansion or reduction to accommodate the desires or needs of the user, and in which the elements will be securely held in assembled relation; to provide a facing strip between adjacent tiers or portions of the complete structure which may be readily attached and removed without the use of tools and without difficulty; to provide such a structure in which the supports for the sections may be adjusted to accommodate different size sections or tO provide different size storage or display compartments.

@ther objects reside in the novel features of construction and arrangement which will be more fully described and disclosed in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings in which- 1 is front elevation of a structure em boaying my invention;

1 2 is a vertical section along the line 1; 3 is a vertical section along the line f Fig. 17 drawn to an enlarged scale to illustrate the method of attachment of the facing strips;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

5 is a vertical section along the line 5 5 of llig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a. plan view in detail as viewed from line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

' a sectional detail. view of a, modi Serial No. 179,451.

fication of the section positioning and lifting means.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

skeleton structure is assembled or built up by the use of spaced frames, each of said frames comprising a front strip 107 bottom strip 11, rear vertical strip 12 and top cross trip 13, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

rlhe front and rear strips l() and l2 are provided with holes 14 spaced at desired intervals and between these front and rear strips are provided supporting bars 15 shown as of angle-bar construction with the horizontal supporting flanges 15a. Each of the supportinoY bars l5 is constructed with a portion of the horizontal flange 152l at each end outwardly bent or disposed to form a tongue 15b (see Fig. 4) of a size to closely lit the holes 14. It will be apparent that the bars 15 may be positioned and held by the tongues 15b in the holes 14 as illustrated in Fig. 2, for example. Additional security is afforded by screws 15X inserted through angle bars 15 (see Fig. 4). Each of the bars 15 has spaced recesses or apertures 15c in the horizontal flanges 15L for a purpose hereinafter described.

S'cctions of varions kinds may be used with the supporting framework described, and in Fig. 1 l have illustrated three of such sections, generally indicated by numeral 20, the upper two having sliding glass doors a. The lower section carries two drawers 20W. Each of these sections is provided with the bottom E20b having studs or lugs 2OC projecting from the bottom thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Across the front of the upper sections 2O are provided the bottom strips 20d and the top strips 20 between which and within which slide the glass doors 20a. The sections are constructed for support on the horizontal flanges of supports 15, being slidable into proper j sition wherein the studs 20d will seat inthe u recesses 15C to provide species Cil ' 2T nea-r the front and rear thereof.

" topra-mes about the bolts of yielding lock or engagement to prevent accidental displacement of the sections.

T he lower front strips 20d and bottoms 20 (except in the case of the lowermost section depend sutliciently below the bottom 20b to concealthe supporting bars and to lie adjacent the upper strips Ee of the subjacent sections. Tops 20f are provided for the sections 20. At the lower corners of the bottom strips 20d of each section are provided notches 20X (sec Fig; for example) for the insertion of a screw driver or lever to lil't the section to disengage the studs 20C from the recessesfl" to permit sliding out of the sec tion.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modification comthe sections ma be readil' rolled out of assembled relation.

` A bottom 'frame comprising the 'front melding 22, the side strips 22? andback strip 23 is inserted between each pair oiE main frame members and secured thereto by bolts 22d.

Topirames composed of cornice portions 25 and; strips 26and'27 are constructed to lie between the spaced top strips 13 oi the main 'frame and transverse plates or straps 28 are carried by the top 'frames 13, the straps projecti'ng a shortdistance at either side of the frame strips 181 (see Fig. 2),. The side strips 27 oi the top frames are notched to restv upon the straps A paneTQQrests loosely upon or may be secured tothe top 'tran es, as illustrated'in Figs. 2 and`5. T he side bars or strips 27 of" the top frames Vare provided with slots Bolts 30 extend through the A'frame members 13 and the slots 2T in side strips 27. One oir' these bolts is extended throughy the rear of' these members and the other through the slot 272* asillustrated in 2 andl A- wing nut 30a is threaded on one end oi each bolt 30, and may be tightened in obvious manner to securely tie the top 'frames together and to the main iframe members 13, washers 30" being provided in well-known manner. The` slots 27@ per-mit partial rotation or tilting of the 30, particularly a the front, to permit the bottom of the cornice 25, which is notched at 25" partially overlying the upper strips 20 of the upper section, to clearsuch section 4and permit Yitsree insertion or removal.v

'.lo concealthe joint between adjacent tiers or sections and torcover the main iframes from observation, lacing strips generally indicated bynumeral are provided, having the laten ally extending front flanges 35a and the rearwardly extending tail portion 35h, the latter being of substantially the same width as the frame strips 13, as illustrated in Fig. l, for example. At the top the facing strips are thickened or constructed to conform to the section et' the cornices 25 so as to present a smooth, unbroken top portion at the liront ot the completed structure. Carried by the tail portions 35D of these facing strips are the spherical fastening members 36 which may be inserted in the spring sockets 3'? carried by the frame members 10 in recesses 10X, as illustrated'in Fig. 3. This construction permits ready attachment and detachment or the racing#v strips 35, the members 36 and 3T. providing a yielding engagement or lock betr n, the tacing'strips and the frame members, will be obvious.

ln Figc (l, I5 have illustrated a means -tor tying the cernices and the facing strips together detachably although it is not necessary to utilize this -l'eature. As illustrated, the

cornices 2o are slotted at 25h, and a corresf a nut l0?) carried on the end of the bolt LlOf is inserted in the other aperture 25C.

smell wrench or other tool may be inserted aiter which such sections are Adesired' are inserted' on the supporting bars, the top trames being tiltcdor partially rotated to permit insertion ety the uppermost section,

after which the facing strips 35V are quickly snapped into place. Should it be desired to remove or replace any 'of the sections after assembly of the completed structure, it is merely necessary to pull oli the :Facing strips 35, insert a screw driver or lever in proper recesses 20X oi the section lying above that which is to. be removed, which section and` those above it, .including the top, are then raised sui'liciently to clear the section below, which. may then be easily slid out of place, being lifted enough te enable the studs 20 to clear their recesses 15C. When the upper most section is removed it is only necessary te tilt thev toptrame as described above and lift such section to clear its studs 20C.

Should itbe desired to change the sections which are inserted the supporting bars 15 CII may be adjusted to pr'oper position to accommodate such new sections, which are then readily inserted.

It will be obvious that my structure is susceptible of modification and improvement, and I do not wish to be restricted to the form shown, except as defined in the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

l. A structure of the class described eemprising spaced trames, supports carried by said frames, top cross members extending between and secured to said frames, sections independently supported between the frames upon said supporting members, said cross members being constructed to partially overhang subjacent sections and means securing` said cross members to said frame members for limited vertical movement.

2. A structure of the class described comprising spaced frames, supports carried by said frames, top cross members extending between and secured to said frames, sections independently supported between the frames upon said supports, said sections being provided with portions overhanging said supports, said top cross members being constructed to partially overhang the uppermost section of each tier, and means securing said top section to said trames for limited vertical movement to clear said uppermost section.

3. In combination, parallel frame members spaced each from its adjacent neighbors a distance corresponding` to the width oit a section to be inserted therebetween, cross members extending between and detachably secured to said frame members, facing` strips removably secured to said frame members at the front thereof,supporting members extentiing trom iront to back of said frame members, sections independently supported upon said supporting members between said Yframe members from supported position after removal of said facing strips.

t. In combination, a plurality of vertical tiers of sections, a single frame member between each pair of tiers, supporting members carried by said frame members to separately support each section of said tiers, racing strips attachable to said frame members, said facing strips being provided with relatively wide front portions to partially overlap the sections carried by said supports and being narrowed to extend between said tiers of sections at the rear oit said front portion.

' 5. In combination, a plurality of vertical tiers or sections, a single frame member between each pair of tiers, supporting members carried by said frame members to separately support each section of said tiers, facing strips attachable to said frame members, said racing strips being provided with relatively wide front portions to partially and slidably movable to and Ymain frame members.

7. In a structure of the class described, spaced frame members, top iframes extending therebetween, supporting members carried by said spaced Jframes, sections arranged in vertical tiers and supported on said supporting members, bolts carried by said frame members and extending through said top frames, said top frames being provided with a portion overhanging the uppermost of said sections when in assembled relation and being slotted for accommodation of said bolts and to permit movement of said top trames with respect to said frame members to clear said uppermost sections.

8. In combination, spaced framed members, supports carried thereby, sections inserted between said frame members upon said supports, top frames extending between said frame members each being provided with a front portion, each of said front portions partially overlapping the subjacent section, said sections being each provided with a depending front portion at the bottom thereof overhanging said supports and lying adjacent the upper edge of the subj acent section.

9. A lnookdown merchandising` case comprising spaced separately formed unit rectangular frames comprising outer trames and an intermediate frame, supporting` members detachably carried by said 'frames at the inner sides of said outer frames and at both sides of said intermediate trame, means extending between said frames and removably secured thereto to maintain the same in properly spaced relation after assembly, and sections arranged in vertical tiersbetween said outer and intermediate frames, said sections being saparately supported upon said supporting` members and independently movable into and out of position between said frame members.

10. A knock-down merchandising case comprising spaced separately Yformed unit rectangular frames comprising outer frames and an intermediate frame, cross members located between and secured to said outer and intermediate frames adjacent the top and bottom thereof, the space between said trames and cross members being unobstructed, supporting members detachably bers dctachably carried by said frames, and.

sections separately supportedE upon said supporting members between said frames,v said sections-being arranged 1n vertical tiers.

12. A device of the character describedA comprising a: plurality of! separately formed rectangular. frames, a rectangular top cross frame, a rectangular bottomcross frame, said frames. and"y cross members being arranged ior assembly where desiredY with said cross members located betweenland secured to said trame members to properly space and secure the same, adjustable supporting members carried by said` frame members and extending from iront to back thereof, andl sections arranged for independent support and mounting upon: said supporting members between said frame members.

13. A device of the character describedV comprising a plurality. of separately formed rectangular frames, a rectangular top cross frame, a rect-angularv bottom cross trama said frames and cross-members being arranged for assembly where desired; with said. cross members located between and secured to said frame members to properly space and secure the same7 adjustable supporting members carried by said frame members and'eX- tending from front to back thereof and sections independently supported upon said supporting members and slidable horizontally into and out of supported position;

14. A knocledown merchandising case comprising spaced separately formed unit rectangular frames comprising outer 'frames and an intermediate frame, upper and lower cross members located between and secured to said intermediate and outer frames, sup.

15. A knock-down merchandising caser comprising spaced separately formed unit rectangular frames comprisingy outer frames and an intermediate frame, upper and lower cross members located between andsecured MILTON l?. DU PLESSIS. 

